Kevin Youkilis and MLB's Former Fan-Favorites Now Tossed to the Wolves

Baseball fans are a fickle bunch, as they can go from cheering a player and declaring him their favorite to just as quickly mercilessly booing him and counting down the days until he is no longer with the team.

Thus is the life of a professional athlete though, as fans like the teams involved generally only care about one thing and that's winning.

Recently Kevin Youkilis, once a fan favorite and All-Star third baseman for the Red Sox has fallen on hard times as his numbers have dropped across the board, and he is now in jeopardy of losing his starting spot when he returns from injury and perhaps even being traded.

So here is a look at some former fan favorites, including Youkilis, who have been tossed to the wolves by their fan bases for one reason or another.

SP Phil Hughes, New York Yankees

Fan favorite because...

Taken in the first round of the 2004 draft out of high school, Hughes dominated minor league hitters and entered the 2007 season as baseball's No. 4 ranked prospect according to Baseball America.

He enjoyed decent success for a 21-year-old that season, going 5-3 with a 4.46 ERA over 13 starts, as he looked to have a bright future in New York. However, he struggled to a 6.62 ERA through eight starts the following season.

Nonetheless, the team was still high on him entering 2009, and he served as the team's primary setup man that year appearing in 51 games and going 8-3 with a 3.03 ERA. The next season he rejoined the rotation, and looked to take the next step going 18-8 and making the All-Star team.

Thrown to the wolves because...

With Andy Pettitte retired, the Yankees hoped Hughes would step into his spot in the rotation behind C.C. Sabathia last season, but instead he struggled badly early.

His velocity dipped to the low-90s to open the season and he sported a 13.94 ERA through three starts before landing on the DL with arm fatigue.

He was decent upon returning in early July, but he's off to a terrible start (2-4, 6.67 ERA) again this season and could be headed back to the bullpen before too long as he no longer looks like he'll be a staple atop the rotation.

1B/DH Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins

Fan favorite because...

Morneau went from a .239 BA, 22 HR, 79 RBI season in his first full year back in 2005 to a .321 BA, 34 HR, 130 RBI line the following season as he captured AL MVP honors and immediate joined the ranks of the game's elite.

From 2006-2009, he posted an average line of .292 BA, 30 HR, 118 RBI and gave the Twins one of the game's top 1-2 punches alongside Joe Mauer.

Thrown to the wolves because...

Morneau got off to a terrific start in 2010, hitting .345 BA, 18 HR, 56 RBI by the All-Star break to earn starting first baseman honors. 

However, a concussion held him out of the game and wound up ending his season, and he has not been the same player since.

Last season he managed just 69 games and hit .227 BA, 4 HR, 30 RBI and he is already on the shelf again this season with a wrist injury.

RP Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs

Fan favorite because...

Since joining the Cubs bullpen full time in 2007, Marmol was among the game's most dominant relievers as he posted a 1.43 ERA with 96 strikeouts over 69.1 innings of work that season as the team's primary setup man.

He put up similar numbers over the next two seasons before moving to the closer's role in 2010. That year, he converted 38-of-43 save opportunities and struck out a ridiculous 138 batters in 77.2 innings of work, for a record 16.0 K/9.

Thrown to the wolves because...

With little chance of topping his 2010 season, Marmol stumbled a bit last year posting a career-high 4.01 ERA and converting just 34-of-44 save chances. Still, he struck out 99 batter in 74 innings.

However, this year he has been unable to find the strike zone with his usually devastating slider and as a result as blown 2-of-4 save chances with a 5.06 ERA. That led to his removal from the closer's role and you'd be hard pressed to find a Marmol fan in Chicago this season.

Thus is the life of a closer in the big leagues. Fans love you when you can consistently lock down ballgames and absolutely despise you when you start blowing games.

3B Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox

Fan favorite because...

Affectionately nicknamed "The Greek God of Walks" for his terrific batting eye, Youkilis became the Red Sox everyday first baseman in 2006.

From 2006-2010 he put up an average line of .297 BA, 21 HR, 85 RBI while making a pair of All-Star appearances. He peaked in 2008, with a .312 BA, 29 HR, 115 RBI season as he ranked among the premier hitters in all of baseball.

With a quirky batting stance, bald head and hard-nosed approach Youkilis quickly became a favorite of Red Sox Nation.

Thrown to the wolves because...

Youkilis struggled last season, as he shifted back to his natural third base position and hit just .258 for the lowest average of his career. Despite that he still made the All-Star team.

This season has been even worse, as he was off to a .219 BA, 2 HR, 9 RBI start before landing on the disabled list.

New manager Bobby Valentine made headlines when he questioned Youkilis' dedication to the game, and with the success of top prospect Will Middlebrooks (.346 BA, 3 HR, 9 RBI) in his absence, he could have trouble finding at bats once he returns. In fact, the free-agent-to-be could find himself on the trade block before too long.

CF Grady Sizemore, Cleveland Indians

Fan favorite because...

Few players in the last 20 years have possessed a legitimate five-tool skill set, but Grady Sizemore fit the bill and he quickly emerged as a superstar because of it.

From 2005-2008 he recorded four straight 20-20 seasons, peaking in 2008 when he set career highs with 33 home runs and 38 steals, also capturing his second straight Gold Glove that season.

It looked as though the Indians had one of the game's young superstars to build around moving forward, and he was still only 25 years old when he put up those terrific numbers in 2008.

Thrown to the wolves because...

Sizemore suffered through a down season in 2009, hitting just .248 BA, 18 HR, 64 RBI, 13 SB and at with a month to go he underwent elbow surgery in hopes of being ready for the following season.

From there, injuries began to pile up as he was held to 33 games in 2010 before undergoing microfracture surgery on his knee, then held to 71 games last season with another knee injury followed by a sports hernia.

This season, the Indians brought him back after declining his $9 million option, signing him to a one-year, $5 million deal with incentives that allowed for him to make the full $9 million. However, he injured his back in spring training and back surgery will keep him out most if not all of the 2012 season, as his time in Cleveland is likely over.